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Early Australian automotive design 1895 - 1953 A thesis submitted in fulfi lment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Norman Arthur Darwin Diploma Business Management Deakin University Certifi cate of Business Studies: Personnel South Melbourne Institute of Technology Certifi cate of Business Studies: Personnel South Melbourne Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Urban Design College of Design and Social Context RMIT University June 2018 Early Australian automotive design 1895-1953 Norman Arthur Darwin School of Architecture and Urban Design RMIT University This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Supervisors: Professor Harriet Edquist Doctor Judith Glover Doctor Areli Avendano For Heather Design is where science and art break even. Robin Mathew III 20 June 2018 Declaration I certify that except where due acknowledgement has been made that this dissertation is of the author alone; includes nothing, which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except where specifi cally indicated in the text; has not been previously submitted, in part or whole, to any university or institution to qualify for any degree, diploma, or other qualifi cation; that the content of the dissertation is the result of work that has been carried out since the offi cial commencement date of the approved research program; any editorial work, paid or unpaid, carried out by a third party is acknowledged; and that ethics procedures and guidelines have been followed. I acknowledge the support I have received for my research through the provision of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. Norman A Darwin IV Early Australian automotive design 1895-1953 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements VII List of fi gures IX List of tables XVII Abstract XVIII Introduction 1 Research Objectives & Methodology 2 Thesis structure 3 Statement of new knowledge and signifi cance 3 1 A review of automotive literature Contemporary International literature 4 Contemporary Australian literature 5 Later literature 6 Australian literature 12 Defi ning automobile design 21 2 The development of the fi rst motorised vehicles 1895-1916 European context 28 Development in Australia 30 Development of automobile capability 38 The fi rst Australian automobiles after 1898 41 The pioneer designers and manufacturers 44 Summary 80 An evolution & map of Australian auto design 81 3 Early development of automobile body design Motor body building 92 Early body styling 96 Early construction methods 104 Protection and other factors 106 Training 108 Australia’s fi rst body designers 109 Summary 112 4 An Intervention – World War I 116 5 Post war Australian automobile design 126 V 6 The standardised motor body development 1917-1925 Holden Motor Body Builders 151 HMBB King William Street plant 159 F T Hack & Company 164 General Motors entry into Australia 167 T J Richards 172 Chrysler: Other large body builders 174 Ford: The fi rst phase to 1922 177 Ford: The French Report 182 Melbourne Motor Body Company 184 Smith & Waddington Pty Ltd 185 Summary 187 7 Consolidation and innovation 1926 – 1939 194 Automotive design drafting 195 The GM agreement 200 The Depression and its aftermath 206 The coupé utility 209 Streamlining 214 The all-enclosed coupé 220 Mechanical designers 229 Summary 235 8 Australian design in the 48-215 Holden 1940 – 1953 240 Climate for an Australian car 242 Australian car plan proposals 243 Wat intervenes 250 Holden prepares 261 Opel infl uence on the future Australian car 267 The Australian car development 271 Ford’s response 285 British response 286 A postscript (The Hartnett) 287 Summary 288 9 Findings and conclusions 297 Appendix I Automobiles designed in Aust. 1895 – 1953 302 Appendix II Designer biographies 332 Bibliography 360 Interviews 381 Glossary 383 Abbreviations 385 VI Acknowledgements This thesis would not have commenced without the encouragement, advice and guidance of Professor Harriet Edquist, that it has been successfully completed is due largely to Harriet’s supervising role. Support has come from many people, friends, fellow historians and those involved in the RMIT University review process. A large number generously made their collections and archives available for my research, particularly those holding family records, Belinda Johns, Brenda Fielding, Lynn Hall, Vickie Clarke, Doug Mennie, Peter Lees, Steven James, Noel Payze, Barbara Stacy, Don Wylie, Maria McClive. One group made research painless, as nothing ever seemed to be a problem, patience was always evident. Librarians are invaluable. I particularly thank those at RMIT, State Library of Victoria, State Library of South Australia - Mortlock Wing, University of Melbourne, Malvern Municipal Library, Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute. Closely following the librarians are archivists; those at RMIT University Archive, Matthew Lombard (National Motor Museum), Helen Stitt (RACV Archive), Leanne McCredden (University of Melbourne Business Archive), Powerhouse Museum, Michelle Cook (Ford Archive), Greg Henry (NRMA Archive), Gilbert Ralph (Rolls Royce Club of Australia Archive) and Gordon Roberts (Vintage & Classic Car Club) Private collectors also freely opened their doors: Bruce Lindsay, David Burrell, Peter Nankervis, Jim Colias, Jack Gow, Graham Fitzgerald, Peter Heuzenroeder, Bill Sides, Margaret & Ray Griffi n, Emma Pierce, Kaye Williams, Dave Perry, Tom Clarke and Paul Deesen. I make special mention of Ivan Hoffmann who many years ago saw the value of interviewing the early pioneers of the Australian motor industry and generiously provided access to his archive and extensive knowledge on South Australian motoring. A number of direct participants of this history and family members gave up time for interview; Len Martin (dec), George Wallace (dec), Leo Pruneau, Marc McInnes, Belinda Johns, Brenda Fielding, Jack Gow, Charles Phillips (dec), Geoff Chamberlain and Kaye Williams. A special thanks goes to those who generously offered to read sections of the thesis, make suggestions and corrected mistakes, many I consider experts in their fi eld, Peter Kable, David Chantrell, Mike Cecil, Rod Dux, VII Mal Grant, Ivan Hoffman, John Cook, Michael Lamm, Graham Jarrett, Louis Fourier, David Wright, Daryl Meek, Hugh Videion, Mark McInnes, Dave Perry and Simon Lockrey. Thanks must go to my supervisors; Harriet, Judith Glover and Areli Avendano, for their guidance, suggestions and encouragement that has ensured this thesis was completed in a timely manner and the format consistent with the requirements of the school. Thanks also to the post graduate support staff who made the paperwork easy. This thesis could not have been attempted without the support and encouragement of Heather, wife, partner, manager, proof reader and confi dant. Heather has been with me on this journey every step of the way, unwavering in her belief it could be achieved: I cannot express my gratitude enough. Norm Darwin VIII List of fi gures Figure Description Page number Chapter 1 1.1 Bel Geddes streamline sketches 8 1.2 GM-H logo 8 1.3 Ron Fimmel sketches 1951 15 1.4 Alf Payze sketch 1941 15 1.5 Structural Decision tree 22 1.6 Automobile Structural Decision tree 22 Chapter 2 2.1 Benz Motorwagon 1879 28 2.2 Panhard & Levassor Daimler motor carriage 29 2.3 Evolution of engine location 29 2.4 Australia’s Horseless Carriage Syndicate 32 2.5 Henry Austin patent drawings 32 2.6 John Pender car 34 2.7 Oakman Motor Company advertisement 34 2.8 Marcel Certain patent drawing 36 2.9 Marcel Certain patent drawing 36 2.10 Anglo French motor carriage 36 2.11 Zeigler engine 42 2.12 Davis Franklin cycle car 42 2.13 De Dion Bouton quadcycle 42 2.14 Davis Shearer steam vehicle 43 2.15 Phoenix Foundry steam truck 44 2.16 Herbert Thomson workshop 45 2.17 Herbert Thomson steam car 47 2.18 1894 Benz 47 2.19 Herbert Thomson steam car engine 48 2.20 Whitney steam car engine 48 2.21 Herbert Thomson patent drawings 50 2.22 W A Nicol draft of Thomson steam engine 50 2.23 1901 Thomson Motor Co automobile 52 2.24 Thomson postal van sketch 53 2.25 Thomson stationary engine 54 2.26 Thomson stationary carousel engine 54 2.27 1902 Tarrant stationary engine 57 2.28 Harley Tarrant patent drawing 57 2.29 1899 Benz 57 2.30 1901 Tarrant car 59 2.31 1902 Tarrant car 59 2.32 1903 Tarrant car 59 2.33 1904 Tarrant car 62 2.34 1903 Argyle car 62 2.35 1903 8hp Tarrant car 62 2.36 First enclosed Australian car 62 2.37 Dan White Brougham body 62 IX 2.38 Tarrant 4-cylinder engine 64 2.39 1906 Tarrant car 64 2.40 Tarrant Motors factory 65 2.41 Henry Sutton patent drawings 69 2.42 Sutton Car 69 2.43 Sutton Voiturette 73 2.44 Sutton Voiturette engine, transmission andd axle 73 2.45 Sutton carburettor drawings and image 73 2.46 1900 Vivian Lewis car 75 2.47 1902 Vivian Lewis car 75 2.48 Vivian Lewis advertisement 75 2.49 1906 Lewis car 75 2.50 Caldwell Bros patent drawing 77 2.51 4WD Caldwell car 77 2.52 George Hoskins patent drawing 79 2.53 Evolution Map of Australian Automotive Design 83 Chapter 3 3.1 1912 Dalgety & Co roadster body 95 3.2 1912 Thomson Bros roadster body 95 3.3 Stanhope motor body drawing 97 3.4 Thomson steam car 97 3.5 Dan White Tonneau body illustration 97 3.6 1907 Roi de Belges motor body 98 3.7 1907 Ewing Bros Brougham motor body 98 3.8 1909 Melbourne Motor Body Builders body 99 3.9 Torpedo body layout drawing 99 3.10 1909 Rolls Royce body 102 3.11 Joseph Grummett patent drawing 102 3.12 1912 Dan White torpedo motor body 103 3.13 1910 Duncan & Fraser motor body 103 3.14 1919 T H White drawing of motor body 103